Help me choose
A stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus AG are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
Active
Dolphin Active 40
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Nautilus
Dolphin Nautilus AG
Above-ground and small inground pools up to 30 ft that need the floor vacuumed.
What we recommend instead
Dolphin Cayman
Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
$1,079
Buy Dolphin CaymanDolphin Active 40 or Dolphin Nautilus AG: our take
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus AG are compared on pool fit, cleaning reach, debris handling, controls and ownership details. The recommendation is based on the job the robot must do—not a simple feature count.
Pool fit and cleaning reach
Dolphin Active 40 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Nautilus AG is intended for above-ground pools. Dolphin Active 40 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Nautilus AG is rated up to 30 ft. Dolphin Active 40 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Dolphin Nautilus AG cleans floor. Dolphin Active 40's documented cleaning system includes 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Active 40 includes Basket and UltraFilter; Dolphin Nautilus AG includes Basket. That gives Dolphin Active 40 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Active 40 provides a weekly timer and smartphone control; Dolphin Nautilus AG provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Active 40 uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin Nautilus AG uses continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Active 40 is listed at $1,799 and Dolphin Nautilus AG at $568; Dolphin Nautilus AG is $1,231 less. Dolphin Active 40 lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Dolphin Nautilus AG. Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus AG each have a specific fit, but neither is the Pool Express pick for this job. Our better alternative is Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
Feature check: what each robot actually has
A green check means the feature is documented as included. A red X means it is documented as absent. A dash means the source does not make the feature clear.
| Feature | Dolphin Active 40 | Dolphin Nautilus AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | YesEdge | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | YesEdge | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | YesEdge | No |
| Large-debris filter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling | YesEdge | No |
| Smartphone app | YesEdge | No |
| Anti-tangle swivel | YesEdge | No |
| 3-year warranty | No | No |
| No recharging between cycles | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in UV-C water treatment | No | No |
Unknown is not treated as “no.” Specifications come from the product pages, current catalog records and manufacturer material collected for this site.
Where Dolphin Active 40 stands out
Dolphin Active 40 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
- Can start on a weekly schedule without a manual launch before every cycle
- Adds smartphone control
Where Dolphin Nautilus AG stands out
Dolphin Nautilus AG is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $568 starting price.
- Is listed $1,231 lower
- Cleans the pool floor
Dolphin Active 40 vs Dolphin Nautilus AG specifications
Use pool fit first. Price and app control do not make up for a robot that cannot cover the length or surfaces you need cleaned.
| Specification | Dolphin Active 40 | Dolphin Nautilus AG |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. | Above-ground and small inground pools up to 30 ft that need the floor vacuumed. |
| Starting price | $1,799 | $568 |
| Pool type | Inground | Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 30 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Basket |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule + app | One-touch start |
| App and remote | App control | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | 60 ft with anti-tangle swivel | Not listed |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 14.6 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Consider the stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus AG are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
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